ASRM Applauds OPM's Updated Health Benefits For Federal Employees With Expanded ART Coverage

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama, March 7 (TNSgov) -- The American Society for Reproductive Medicine issued the following news release:

The American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), which has long advocated for fertility coverage, is thrilled to share that the U.S. Office of Personnel Management's (OPM) Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) program includes in its 2024 carrier letter a call for plans to include artificial insemination (intrauterine insemination, intracervical insemination, and intravaginal insemination) and associated medication, and medication for up to three cycles of IVF annually. This builds on a fertility preservation benefit added in 2022, also with ASRM support.

The FEHB Program is the largest employer-sponsored group health insurance program in the world, covering almost 9 million people including employees, annuitants, and their family members, as well as some former spouses and former employees.

To view all updates and requirements to the 2024 FEHB program view the 2024 carrier letter. Details on what plans will cover are expected to be released in fall 2023. ASRM is monitoring implementation and communicating with OPM as the process plays out in preparation for coverage to start in 2024.

ASRM thanks Kiran Ahuja, Director of OPM, and all staff at OPM for their efforts to continuously update reproductive health and assisted reproductive technology (ART) coverage for U.S. government workers. ASRM also thanks Representative Gerald Connolly (D-VA) and Senator Tammy Duckworth (D-Il) for their efforts to highlight the need for increasing FEHB's health benefits to include ART. You can view this here. ASRM is additionally grateful to its members and staff and allied stakeholders for their tireless work with OPM over the past several years to expand coverage in FEHB program. This welcome news leaves us optimistic that in future years IVF will be a required coverage in the FEHB program.

We are aware that the implementation of such new programs can be challenging for patients to access, and we encourage you let us know if your patients are having trouble accessing their benefits at publicaffairs@asrm.org.

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View letter here: https://www.opm.gov/healthcare-insurance/healthcare/carriers/2023/2023-04.pdf

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Original text here: https://www.asrm.org/news-and-publications/news-and-research/press-releases-and-bulletins/asrm-applauds-opms-updated-health-benefits-for-federal-employees-with-expanded-art-coverage/